As Mississippi Power commemorates its 100th year of providing safe, reliable and affordable energy to the customers and communities it serves, the company’s Mississippi Power Foundation continues to invest resources to ensure the future success of the state.
As part of this effort, the Mississippi Power Foundation is supporting the state’s accountancy profession by providing a $400,000 gift to the University of Mississippi Patterson School of Accountancy Building Fund.
“For 100 years, we have powered progress across our state while brightening and strengthening our communities,” said Matt Grice, Mississippi Power vice president, treasurer and CFO. “We remain focused on continuing to drive growth throughout Mississippi by enhancing our state’s workforce and providing innovative technology to help educate our future leaders, which includes developing accounting students across the state.”
The generous Mississippi Power Foundation gift to help construct the accountancy building will be recognized by the naming of a 60-person lecture hall in the new facility.
“We greatly appreciate the generosity of the members of the Mississippi Power Foundation for their sponsorship of a first-floor classroom in our new Patterson School building,” said Mark Wilder, dean of the School of Accountancy. “We believe this new facility will be the finest stand-alone accountancy building in the nation – and we are proud to have the Mississippi Power Foundation name on this new lecture hall.
“We are also grateful for the time that the Mississippi Power team has invested on our campus – helping our students learn more about their company and the many different career opportunities they provide.”
The $125 million Patterson School will be constructed at the prominent corner of University Avenue and Grove Loop. Its 110,000 square feet will house classrooms, study spaces, administrative and faculty office suites, tiered auditoriums and outdoor spaces.
When completed, the new accountancy building will enable the program to teach all its accountancy students under one roof once again. Consequently, this will also free up space in Conner Hall for the Ole Miss School of Business Administration to expand and better serve its record 5,900-member student body.
“Our new building will provide a strong sense of community for all our accountancy students, faculty, staff and alumni,” Wilder said. “We are grateful for the belief that the Mississippi Power Foundation has in the education we are providing to our students, and we are confident our new building will enable our program to reach even greater levels of excellence.”
“Through this contribution, students for generations to come will utilize cutting-edge technology to reach new heights as they hone their skills and prepare for their prospective careers,” said Grice.
Kaitlin Childress, associate director of development for the Patterson School of Accountancy, said, “By supporting the Patterson School of Accountancy Building Fund, the Mississippi Power Foundation is strengthening the university’s accountancy school, and, as a result, strengthening the entire state.
UM’s Patterson School of Accountancy provides the best accountancy education in Mississippi and for many years has been recognized as one of the top 10 accountancy programs in the nation, Childress said.
“We so appreciate the Mississippi Power Foundation for its inspirational dedication and commitment to the University of Mississippi, future accountants and the accounting profession.”
To make a gift to the Patterson School of Accountancy Building Fund, contact Kaitlin Childress, associate director of development, at kaitlin@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3166, or visit online here.
By Jonathan Scott/UM Development